When can law enforcement officers make an arrest without a warrant?

Law enforcement officers can make an arrest without a warrant when they have probable cause to believe that a felony has been committed. Probable cause is a legal standard that requires officers to have sufficient reason based on facts and circumstances to believe that a crime has occurred. This allows officers to act quickly and decisively to prevent further harm, preserve evidence, and ensure that the suspect does not evade justice.

In this scenario, having probable cause signifies that the officer has specific articulable facts that support the belief that a felony has taken place, which justifies the immediate action of making an arrest without waiting for a warrant. This principle is rooted in the need for law enforcement to effectively uphold the law while also protecting the public.

While knowing the suspect, the suspect fleeing the scene, or witnessing the crime can influence the situation and may provide grounds for an arrest, these factors do not inherently establish the legal justification required under probable cause. Therefore, the strongest and most fundamental condition for making a warrantless arrest in the context of a felony is the officer's belief—backed by probable cause—that a crime has indeed occurred.